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Poking around on the computer this morning I found this Facebook page full of pictures of wonderful places around the world and thought I'd share.

Pretty incredible. I have loved my trips to foreign countries whether it is the scenery, the people, the food, the culture or some combination.

My company did busines in Italy. I either had to speak to people in Italy via phone or when visiting in person. I don't speak Italian but an Italian speaking friend gave me several phrases to help get me to an English speaking person.

My sister and I took a vacation in Italy. The first week I had business to conduct, so she heard me using my few Italian phrases. By the time we got to Florence, shopping for mementos of our trip, she asked me to ask the shop keeper if he took credit cards. I turned to him and in English asked the question. He responded in English whereupon I turned to my sister and said, "He said yes." She called me an asshole. Lol. I love that story.

Joan, love your story about the shopkeeper speaking English. Really made me laugh.

Last spring I spent a few weeks in Paris where my favorite thing to do is walk until I pretty much drop. I count on getting lost a couple times a day. At that point I usually stop an older woman and try to explain in tortured French that I'm lost and can she tell me where the (nearby major site) is. Almost to a one, the response is in perfect English with just a hint of exasperation, "What are you trying to say?" Some of them just laugh before they say, "I speak English." However, I'm sure that I get more reliable directions because I at least try to speak their language. It's a shame that I can't find a french accent with both hands and a flashlight.

The Greek island with the white domed buildings is Santorini. I was there in 2005 as part of a cruise, and it truly is one, if not THE, most beautiful place on earth: deep blue sea-filled caldera with whitewashed towns perched on the old volcano rim.

Now that I think of it, I hit my head there, also! Getting to be a habit.

JudyJB wrote:The Greek island with the white domed buildings is Santorini. I was there in 2005 as part of a cruise, and it truly is one, if not THE, most beautiful place on earth: deep blue sea-filled caldera with whitewashed towns perched on the old volcano rim.

Now that I think of it, I hit my head there, also! Getting to be a habit.

I would love to visit Santorini one day, because I am fascinated by volcanoes. Always have been. Many scholars think that the eruption at Santorini (Thera) that helped destroy the Minoan civilization was the origination of the Atlantis myth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_eruption

Anne

Thanks for that link, really some beautiful places! I was surprised at how many of the pictures that grabbed my attention were from Hawaii. I've never thought about going there but maybe I should.

JoanE, I loved your story about your Italian translation for your sister.

Some beautiful places -- but where is Dun Angus? That's #1 on my list of places to see again. (Then there's the list of places I haven't seen yet . . . my lists just keep growing!)

Love the story. It's been my experience if I at least try to speak the local language the "locals" are more likely to help me in English.

The food was always my favorite part. Even if I could not read the language I could normally figure out if it was beef, chicken, etc., and the rest was the adventure.

In 95' I took a wine tasting trip to France through culinary school. My 2nd trip to Europe. One of my favorite trips. Here is an article somewhat about that trip https://theotherfrenchchef.wordpress.com/. I was in the 1st group of students to make the trip and one of my favorite nights we sat in the dining room of the Hotel du Palais http://www.hotel-du-palais.com/web/hdp/restaurants_bars_biarritz.jsp while Gerard told us stories of working in the hotel as a young man and his rise to be Premier Sommelier de France depuis 1962 (Best winemaster in France). Due to Gerard we had access to many places not open to the general public.

Chocolate and wine what a trip

What a beautiful collection of photos of the world.

I was fortunate to have lived in Europe for four years, but the most fun I ever had there was on several trips with friends. One was a bicycle trip across Portugal, and we would ride our bicycles all day and stop for lunch midway to our destination. One day a woman in our group ordered chicken for lunch, and she waited and waited for her food. Suddenly we heard a lot of noise coming from the side of the cafe and she went to investigate. There was her chicken, being slaughtered in the alley. She walked across the street, vomited in the grass, got on her bike, and rode away. We didn't see her until we arrived at the hotel that night.

My favorite country is Scotland. It has some very beautiful places, especially if you travel to any of the islands. Someday I hope to spend more time in the Orkney Islands and in Islay. Lots of other islands I have never been to but are also beautiful. These are truly unspoiled places where you can barely find hotels let alone buy a postcard or souvenir. Best places were found on single-lane roads along the sea.

Now, I am really wishing I were there.....